Mlive.com archivesState Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (in middle), R-Lowell Township, reads to students at Ridgemoor school. He is joined by State Police Chief Gary Gorski (left) and former state Sen. Bill Hardiman.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids school board says the actions of state Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell Township, could keep the district from losing $2 million aimed a keeping elementary class sizes small.

The K-12 schools budget was passed Wednesday by the Senate on a 25-13 vote. Hildenbrand had three amendments approved, including restoring funding levels for small class size grants targeting kindergarten through third-grade to the current year level.

“We want to commend Senator Hildenbrand for his continued leadership and thank his colleagues in the state Senate who supported these necessary changes to ensure funding is restored for at-risk youth,” said Jon O’Connor, chair of the board’s legislative committee. “We are grateful that the majority of senators took action to remedy the disparities and hope that the state House will follow suit.”

The school district is facing potentially $5.3 million in state cuts between class size and kindergarten dollars. The state requirement that districts move to all-day kindergarten would result in Grand Rapids losing $3.3 million because current language prevents the district from using $3.3 million in federal Title funds for its five half-day programs.

School leaders are hoping the $2 million class size restoration survives the House and Senate conference to merge their versions of the K-12 school aid budget.

Last year, Hildenbrand introduced an amendment which restored two-thirds of the class size funding. Besides class sizes, last year the state cut or eliminated a few grants dedicated to high poverty and high need districts, including for bilingual education and special education services.

“I have long supported dedicated funding for urban districts across Michigan that helps keep elementary level class sizes small,” said Hildenbrand, who said the learning environment was important to children being successful in school.

He said ensuring children kindergarten ready is another important issue and parental involvement is one of the key factors.

The other amendment Hildenbrand introduced Wednesday regarding class size would allow large districts such as Grand Rapids the flexibility to use another special use grant to support at-risk youth. That grant, known as 31A funds, is limited to reducing class sizes in grades kindergarten through sixth-grade but the amendment expands it to all grades.

Interim Superintendent Teresa Neal has spoken about class size problems the district has had this school year.

The budget proposals introduced earlier this year would have eliminated the remaining small class size and special education funding.

“Senator Hildenbrand truly took the time to listen and fully understand our issues and concerns, said Senital Lenear, board president. “I think that is why he was able to convince his colleagues that the amendments were needed. He put the interests of children ahead of politics and fought for equity, fairness and support for all children.”

The district is also hopeful the House will also support his amendment restoring special education reimbursement funding that Grand Rapids has received anywhere from $80,000 to $900,000 in payments over the years.

If Hildenbrands amendments are adopted and additional legislative action is taken to address the Title I funds, the district could avoid a huge financial hit next school year. The Senate has said its intent is not jeopardize those federal dollars.

Email: mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/GRPScotty.